Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-06

greeted the distinguished guests IN the
most cordial and enthusiastic manner.
The President received the demonstrations
in very gracious way, bOwiDg and rais-
ing his hat almost constantly as he rode
along
THE DECORATIVE DISPLAYS.
Spanning Monroe street, just east OF
State street, is the triumphal arch under
which the procession passed. The arch
rests on two square columns, which rise
from the sidewalk to height of thirty
feet. These columns are covered with bunt-
ing representing the American flag, with
the stars on the capitals Just below the
pyramidal apex. On each face of the col
umns are draped, crossed flags, and on
panels lower down, are golden shields,
each of which bears in white letters on
ground of blue the name OF Territory.
Thirty-eight golden stars, each represent
ing the State whose name 1t bears, shine
on the head of the arch from side to side
and in the center of the span is well exc
cuted representation of the arms of the
United States, the star spangled shield, the
warning arrows and the noble bird OF free
dom, all forming a support for q marble
bust of Columbia. Pendant from the CEN
ter of the arch by ropes of smilsx, is q
bust of Washington, on each side OF which
is a scroll that bears the inscription,
President OF the United States" Below
this in large white letters is the word We'll
come. On each column at the point where
the arch springs from it, is shield with
the words, October 5th, 1887"
The business houses along State street
are tastefully and in some cases elabOrately
decorated. Above Washington street the
ornamentations are more ostentatious. The
procession did not 90 below Washington
street on State. The main feature Of all
the decoration is the American flag, and
its colors in all possible combination and
arrangement, mingled with pictures of the
Chief Magistrate, with the features of the
first lady of the land in many cases placed
beside that of her lord.
The fair has exhausted the means Of out
side decorations in its Establishment. Hun
dreds of flags futtered from the windows,
and in the middle OF the building Is a
large portrait of the President, with the
legend Welcome to Chicago" The large
show windows have been set with historl-
cal scenes. In one George Washington APP
pears in the costume and attitude 50 well
known from the picture Crossing the
Delaware" In the next is General Grant
in full uniform, infantrymen with ground
ed arms being on either side. In the next
window is o good likeness of President
Cleveland and his wife. The next window
shows the late President Garfield, with a
soldier near him, and in the last niche is
Abraham Lincoln, holding in his hands
the scroll containing the emancipation
proclamation. All these figures are of wax
and well executed. The background is
painted to represent appropriate scenes.
AT THE REVIEWING STAND.
Just before arriving at the reviewing
stand on Michigan avenue the Presiden-
tial party passed under a canopy of Wis
consin evergreens aud twined arbOr vitae,
lOOped with parti.cOlored bunting and
supported by four pillars of Moorish de-
sign. From the horns of the crescents OF
evergreens which surmouut the pillars
| float pennants which bear the stars and
stripes, and which almost touched the
Executives carriage as he passed beneath
| them. On the north and south faces OF
| the square based columns are papcrmachie
representations of the national bird, sup
ported by cross banners. Beside the re-
viewing stand hangs, in slings, the huge
corner stone of the auditorium building,
which was to have taken part in the Cere-
monies of the day, but which has fallen
for th, time being into 'innouous desue-
| tude
When the head of the procession reached
the reviewing stand on Michigan avenue,
the President and party left their carriages
and took seats on the stand to review the
| line.
At the conclusion of the parade Mayor
Roche made brief speech Of welcome to
the President, who replied as fellows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
at was soon after the election of 1884
that an old resident of your city was ear
nestly urging me to pay you visit. He
endeavOred to meetall objections that were
started, and insisted with unyielding per
tiuacity that the invitation should be ac-
cepted At last, and after all persuasion
seemed to fail, he Vehemently broke out
with this declaration, ''The people up
where live don't think man is fit for
President who has never seen Chicago"
Il have often thought of this incident
since that time; and sometimes when
| have felt that was not doing for the peO-
pie and the public welfare all that might
be done, or all that l would like to do,
have wondered whether things would not
have gone on better if l had visited Chi
cago. Indeed, it has, believe, been pub
! liCiv stated on one or more occasions
| lately, when the shortcomings Of the
Chief Executive were under discussion,
that nothing better could be expected of q
man who had never been west of some
designated place or river; and this, ] sup.
pose, means the same thing that my Chi
cago friend meant, and involves the same
accusation and conclusion. If my alleged
official crimes and misdemeanOrs are thus
charitably accounted for, shall not CON-
plain; while | confess that the declara-
tioas of the representatives of this city, as
| have given it, is an evidence Of that
local pride and loyalty of which yOur
great city is striking monument. All
have heard of it if they have not seen it,
for every one of your people seems TO have
organized himself committee of one to
spread its glories abroad.
And now that / am here, 1 feel like
saying, with the Queen of Shebs, The half
was not told me-
''The amazement is greatly increased
when recall little recent history. In
1888 the town of Chicago was incorporated;
upon the question OF incorporation thir-
teen votes were cast, one of which was in
the negative. We do not know the reason
which actuated this citizen in his adverse
vote; but if he were here to-day, | be-
lieyed he would be heartily ashamed of it.
Five days after its Incorporation as a town,
Chicago held its first election for town Of
fcers, and we are told that the total vote
on that occasion was twenty-eight We
look in vain for any trace of bOOdlers in
those days, though ge are told that the
first building constructed after the estab.
lishment of the town was log Jail.
YOur population in 1887, when Chicago
was incorporated city, was four thousand.
mi l. -. a..